Form hoist



Aug. 17, 1954 F B|TTNER 2,686,659

FORM HOIST I Filed Sept. 17, 1951 Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE FORM HOIST rcdwil tn r, s An elcs G Application September 17, 1951, Serial No. 247,060

(]. g54=+=18lii 8 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with a form hoist and it is a general object of the invention to provide a hoist that is of simple, practical, dependable construction and which is particularly practical for operating or handling forms, or the like, rela tive to beams or like structural elements in the course of building construction or like operations.

In the course of constructing buildings involv: ing heavy beams and the like it is common to employ steel beams and it is common to operate forms and other equipment relative to such beams. In a typical situation where a building involves steel beams it is common to arrange forms in connection with such beams to receive concrete, or the like. In a typical situation forms, ordinarily termed sofiit forms, are elevated be: neath the previously placed beams, and after they have been secured concrete is poured so that a concrete beam involving a soilit portion is incore prorated with th steel. beam. The handling of sofiit forms is, in many cases, a rather slow, dif': ficult and dangerous operation and since somt forms are ordinarily constructed of wood, or are of temporary con tru ti n, care must be excrcised to prevent them from bein crushed o de formcd i the c urse of bein han le relativ to *bfi imfi- I is a general object of th s inve ion to. pro: Vide a hoist th t ri e easily and q ickly ap ied to and handl d i conn ct on with a beam and which operates to advantageously handle forms relative to the beam, as, for instance, scfiit forms, or o her like stru tu al elem nt or omponents.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hoist of the general character referred to which involves two lines which depend from the b am cle f t e eam and to a soffit form or the like to which they can be connected for handllng the form without danger of damaging or distorting it in any Way.

It is another object of the invention to pro-. vide a hoist of the general character referred to which is applicable to a beam a d inv lves feaur s of coast v.ticn by w ich it can b made secure on a beam in a desired position so that the ines of the hois depend from the beam in the desired.

it is a o her bject of the invention to p 0= vi e ho cf the en ral ch r ct r r ferred to which is of simple, inexpensive construction and at the same time is sturdy, easy to handle and convenien and practical to operat A typical embodiment of the invention can be used Q11 a beam such as a steel :Iv-ibeam for the handling of a fo m beneath the beam and it may include a frame having a base rectangular in plan configuration and for-med of rails that extend transversely of the beam and Spreaders that extend longitudinally of the beam. Standards are carried by the base and project upward therefrom and involve legs that attach to the base and heads carried by the legs. The legs connectvvith the base so that the rails of the base are not ob structed and the heads are supported so thatthey are vertically disposed and spaced apart lengthwise of the beam.

,A mounting means is provided for releasably securing the frame to the beam and ina vpreferred construction involves a pair of hooks on each rail of the frame and the hooks of each pair ,are ad, justable lengthwise of the supporting rail. Each hook is carried by a block slidably supported by a rail and a clamp means is. provided for releasably secu ing the block against. movement along the salt The pr ic rcd form of hook involves a shank "(i icl ve ti ally n th block While a jaw pros ic. ate ally f om the s a k to en a e beneath t e up er flan o the team A releasable lock is pre -ice o ma nt inin t e hock position wi h thei w en ed w th he beam and ameans rovided icr ti hten n the h ok a ainst the be n.

A rum is rctetablr sup orted b the, fram icetween the head of the, t ains 911 a nonmetal-eels thc extcnd len hwise c th b am Ieatvr a ccn iru t th d um has enches is hear ngs on the heads of the operat ins o the rai pr e abl i ol e hand rank a ed b ne o t e heads at the wiser did? ZlQ -QP ail- Q a il i l tram th hand crank n thin ies c "the arms.- A h ldin c means is providfid f fels i phly 119151 1 5 t e an operate rcs tionandma inclu e a ratchet mechanics-. havin ratchet wheel. on th oth r run on cf he drum and apav cooperatin with th Wheel.-

TWO lines are carried by the drum each having a dea end emitt d to the drum and he nes are wound n corresponding dire ti ns on t e rum so that t ey feed o t .or from th drum like manners as thedrum isrotated. The lines are preferably provided at their outer or lower ends i h Work r ceiv n books r th l k Line guiding means is provided and involves guide rollers at the outer sides of the frame, pref.- erably parallel with the Spreaders or the frame. The guides preferably include rollers on the shafts extending between the railsof the frame and the rollers are spacedapart so that they are spaced a substantial distance outward from the edges of the beam. The lines leaving the drum are arranged so that one extends over one guide roller while the other extends over the other guide roller. The lines extend down and apart as they extend from the drum to the rollers and from the rollers the lines hang or depend substantially vertically to the point where the work is engaged with the lines. In a typical situation it is preferred to provide a sling to connect the lower ends or hooks of the lines and in a typical situation the sling can be engaged under a sofiit form, or the like.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a typical building construction wherein there is a beam supported on posts and hoists embodying the invention located on the beam and handling a soffit form beneath the beam in the course of the form being elevated to cooperate with the beam. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the hoists. Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2, showing the beam and soflit form in section and showing the lines from a hoist engaged with the sofi'it form by means of a sling. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the hoist taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-43 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 7-1 on Fig. 3.

The hoist provided by the invention can be used in various situations. However, it is particularly practical for use in buildings as where a steel frame is. provided and where sofiit forms or the like are handled in connection with the horizontal beams of the frame. In the drawings I have illustrated a portion of a typical building construction wherein there are vertical posts I!) and horizontal beams I I supported by the posts. A soffit form I2 is shown related to a beam H and is indicated as a typical element that may be handled by hoists embodying the present invention so that it is moved upwardly into engagement with the beam or from beneath the beam between a lowered position such as is shown in Fig. 1 and a working position such as is shown in Fig. 3. The particular beam shown in the drawings is a typical I-beam involving a vertical center web l5, bottom horizontal flanges Iii and top horizontal flanges H.

In carrying out the invention one or more hoists embodying the invention can be employed as circumstances require, and in a typical situation two hoists are employed as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A typical hoist embodying the invention involves, generally, a frame A, mounting means B for releasably securing the frame to the beam H, a drum. C rotatably carried by the frame, operating means D for the drum, holding means E. for the drum, lines L carried by the drum and line guiding means M carried by the frame and serving to guide the lines L relative to the frame and relative to the beam H so that they are advantageously disposed relative to the form l2. In a typical construction a sling S is carried by the lines and connects the lines to the form.

' In a. preferred form of construction the frame 4 A involves a base 2!! and standards 2! projecting up from the base. The base 29 illustrated in the drawings involves rails 22 that extend transversely of the beams and spreaders 23 that extend between the end portions of the rails. The rails and beams are rigidly connected and form a structure that is rectangular in plan configuration. In the particular case illustrated the rails 22 are of simple form, being rectangular in cross section, and they are of substantial length so that in a typical installation they have end portions 25 projecting beyond the sides of the beam II, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The spreaders 23 extend lengthwise of the structure, that is, lengthwise of the beam l l and preferably extend between the outer end portions 25 of the rails 22 so that they do not in any way obstruct the portions of the rails that overlie or that may be immediately above the beam II.

The standards 2| of the frame are preferably located at the ends of the frame or above the rails 22 and each standard preferably involves legs 28 joined to the base and projecting upwardly therefrom to carry a head 29. In the preferred construction the lower ends of the legs 28 are attached to the corners of the base or to the outer end portions 25 of the rails 22 and they extend upwardly and inwardly or converge from the sides of the base to the head 29. The head 29 is fixed to the upper ends of the legs and is preferably a flat, vertically disposed plate. By securing the standards 2! to the base in the manner described and as shown throughout the drawings the heads 29 of the standards are spaced apart longitudinally of the structure and are located a suitable distance above the rails and are above the middle portions of the rails. It is further to be observed that the legs 28, by being disposed as shown in the drawings, are clear of the rails, except at the ends thereof, and they therefore do not interfere with the rails.

The mounting means B is provided for releasably securing the frame, preferably the base of the frame, to the beam H and involves one 01 more pairs of books. In a preferred construction a pair of hooks is carried by or related to each rail 22. One or both of the hooks of each pair is adjustable lengthwise of the rail with which the pair is related and in the case illustrated in the drawings each hook of each pair is adjustable lengthwise of the supporting rail.

In the case illustrated each hook 330 is supported on a rail 22 by a carrier or block 3i, which block is adjustable longitudinally of the rail. In the case illustrated the block involves a bottom 32, a top 33 and sides 34 which parts ar rigidly related andcombine to form a structure having an opening 35 that passes the rail 22. The opening 35 is horizontally disposed in the block and slidably passes the rail.

A clamp means is provided for releasably securing the block 3?! against movement lengthwise of the rail and in the case illustrated a clamp screw 49 is shown threaded to one side of the block and has its inner end located in the opening 35 so that it can be clamped against one side of the rail 22. An operating knob ii is provided on the outer end of the screw 49 so that it is conveniently accessible for manual operation. With the construction just described the block 3! can be freely slid along the railto the desired position lengthwise thereof or relative to the beam on which the hoist is located 5. and can then be set in that position to remain there until deliberately operated.

The hook 3U cooperates with the block 3| to clamp a flange, preferably an upper flange ll of the beam H and in the case illustrated the bottom 3l of the block rests on the top of the beam flange while the hook engages under the beam flange. The particular hook construction illustrated involves a vertical shank t2 slidably carried in an opening 43 in the block and a jaw 44 projects from the lower end of the shank laterally of the shank. The shank 42 is rotatable in the opening 43 so that it can be rotated to vary the position of the jaw relative to the beam. The shank of the hook can be rotated to a position where the jaw extends parallel with or is clear of the flange of the beam, or it can be moved to an operating position such as is shown in Fig. 3 where it projects beneath the flange of the beam. A releasable lock means is provided for normally holding the shank of the hook in position where the jaw 44 is in operatin position beneath a flange of the beam. In the case illustrated a lock lever 5i! is pivotally secured to the upper end of the shank 42 as by a pivot pin 5| and the outer end of the lever is yoked, as shown in Fig. '7, so that it can be engaged over the upper edge of the rail thus locking the structure against the shank of the hook turning in the opening 43.

An operating means is provided for shifting the shank longitudinally in opening 53 and in the case illustrated this means involves a nut 55 carried on a threaded portion 56 of the shank and engaged with the top 33 of the block 3|. It will be apparent from the drawings how the nut can be rotated to shift the shank so that the jaw on the shank clamps against or beneath the flange [T of the beam. The nut is preferably of a type that can be conveniently operated manually or, if desired, it can be a conventional nut adapted to be operated by a wrench or the like.

The drum C is supported by the frame between the heads 29 of the standards 2| so that it is rotatable about a horizontal axis that extends longitudinally of the hoist or longitudinally of the beam II. In the case illustrated the drum involves a. core 68 of uniform diameter from one end to the other, end flanges El on the drum and trunnions 63 projecting from the ends of the core and rotatably carried in bearings 84 carried by the heads 29.

The operating means D provided for driving the drum C provides a manually operated member and a drive from that member to the drum. In the particular case illustrated the manually operated member is in the nature of a hand crank having a hub 'lfl rotatably carried on a spindle l'l that projects from one of the heads 29 while a crank arm 12 projects from the hub and is provided with a handle 13.

The drive provided between the hand crank and the drum C preferably provides the desired leverage and in the case illustrated it is shown as involving a drive pinion II fixed on the hub 1-8 and engaging and driving a gear 12 fixed on one of the trunnions t3 projecting from the core 60 of drum C.

The holding means E serves to normally releasably hold the drum C in position so that the lines carried thereby will not move downwardly. In the case illustrated the means E is shown as a ratchet mechanism involving a ratchet wheel 14 fixed on the other trunnion 63 projecting from core SI] of drum C. A pawl 15 is carried by a pivot 16 and cooperates with the teeth of the drum and a handle 1'! is provided on the pawl so that it can be conveniently released manually when it is desired to free the drum so the lines can be lowered. The arrangement of parts is such that the pawl is normally urged by gravity into cooperative engagement with the wheel and when the pawl is to be released it is merely lifted by moving the handle I! upwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5.

In accordance with the invention there are two lines L carried by the drum C. Each line has a fixed or dead end portion secured to the core 68 of the drum as by suitable line clamps 8|. The lines are wound on the core 69 in the same direction from the point or points where they are secured so that when the drum is rotated the lines are operated in the same direction and to the same degree or in the same amount.

The line guiding means M serves to guide the portions of the lines that project or extend from the drum. In the case iilustrated the line guides occur at the sides of the base of the frame and are therefore located in spaced relation from the flanges of the beam on which the hoist is located. In the case illustrated each line guide involves a roller carried on a shaft 85 that extends between the ends of the rails 22 and in the case illustrated the shafts and rollers are located out ward of the spreaders 23. The eneral arrangement of parts is such that the lines L extend down and outward or apart from the drum, engage over the rollers 85 and then depend to the work. In a typical situation the portions of the lines that depend from the rollers may be substantially vertical- In the particular case illustrated they are shown as toed slightly inward. Further, in the case illustrated the lower or terminal ends of the depending portions of the lines L are shown provided with fastening means in the form of hooks 81. In practice the hooks or other fastening means provided on the lines may be employed to facilitate coupling of the lines to work such as a form l2, or the like. In the particular case illustrated a sling S is shown employed for efiecting the desired connection between the lines and the work. The sling S is shown as a length of cable or the like with loops or eyes 88 at its ends. The sling is engaged beneath the form l2 and the eyes 80 of the slings are engaged with the hooks 8? of the lines. Through such construction the lines can be engaged with the form [2 so that the form is elevated to the desired position relative to the beam 1 I.

To operate the hoist provided by the invention it is placed on the top of the beam H and the desired adjustment is made of the means B. The various elements or means B are actuated, for instance, the blocks are set against movement relative to the rails, and the hook jaws are positioned in the desired manner beneath the flanges ll of the beam and are made tight against the flanges. With the frame properly set on the beam the lines are arranged over the guides and depend therefrom. The sling S is then engaged with or beneath the work, say under the form 12. As the drums C are operated the lines are uniformly drawn up or elevated causing the form it to be elevated relative to the beam ill. It is to be noted that as the hoist or hoists are operated the lines thereof remain clear of the beams and of the forms i2, making it possible to conveniently elevate the form from a position clear of the beam to one in cooperative relationship to the beam, as shown in Fig. 3. In the course of operating the drum the means E operates to check any reversal of movement of the drum that might allow the form to lower or fall. When the form or the structure handled by the hoist or hoists has been moved to the desired position it can be secured, as to the beams, by any suitable means. In practice, wires or rods are commonly used for this purpose. When the form has been secured the sling or slings can be released.

In the foregoing description it is to be observed that the hoist is of very simple, inexpensive construction, that it is sturdy, practical, and convenient to operate, and that it can be used to advantage in typical building operations such as have been pointed out.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A unitary hoist applicable to a horizontally disposed, overhead beam including, a frame adapted to be supported on the beam and having beam-engaging rails extending across the top of the beam and spreaders between the ends of the rails, the rails and spreaders forming a base, and standards projecting up from the base to overlie the beam, manually operable latch means carried by the rails adapted to releasably secure the frame to the beam, a drum rotatably carried by the frame between the standards, manually operable means adapted to drive the drum, two lines anchored to the drum and wound thereon in like manner, and two line guides carried by the frame to occur at opposite sides of the beam and each engaged by a line, the guides being adapted to spread the lines clear of the beam, said latch means including engaging hooks carried by blocks on the rails and adjustable therealong.

2. A same hoist applicable to a same beam including, a frame adapted to overlie and be supported on the beam and having rails extending across the beam and spreaders between the rails, the rails and spreaders forming a base, and standards projecting up from the base, adjustable latch means carried by the rails adapted to releasably secure the frame to the beam, a drum rotatably carried by the frame between the standards, manually operable means adapted to drive the drum, two lines anchored to the drum and wound thereon in like manner, and two line guides carried by the frame to occur between the ends of the rails at opposite sides of the beam and each engaged by a line, the guides being adapted to spread the lines clear of the beam, said latch means including, carriers adjustable along the rails and manually operated hooks carried by the carriers and engageable with the beam.

3. A hoist applicable to a beam including, a frame adapted to be supported on the beam and having rails extending across the beam and spreaders between the rails, the rails and spreaders forming a base, and standards projecting up from the base, means carried by the rails adapted to releasably secure the frame to the beam, a drum rotatably carried by the frame between the standards, manually operable means adapted to drive the drum, two lines anchored to the drum and wound thereon in like manner, and line guides carried by the frame and each engaged by a line, the guides being spaced apart to spread the lines clear of the beam, said first mentioned means including, blocks slidable along the rails,

means adapted'to-set the'blocksagainst movement along the rails, a hook carried by each block having a shank rotatable and slidable in the block and a beam engaging jaw projecting laterally from the shank, means locking the shank against rotation and means operating the shank longitudinally.

4. A hoist applicable to a beam including, a frame adapted to be supported on the beam and including a base adapted to overlie the beam and having edge portions projecting from opposite sides of the beam and standards with upwardly convergent legs projecting upwardly from the base, manually operable latch means adapted to releasably secure the frame to the beam, a drum rotatably carried by the frame between the standards, means adapted to be manually operated and adapted to drive the drum, two lines anchored to the drum and wound thereon in like manner, and two line guides carried by the frame and each engaged by a line, the guides being a spaced apart to spread the lines clear of the beam and at opposite sides thereof, the base having rails extending transversely of the beam and carrying the first mentioned means, the rails having unobstructed middle portions between the legs of the standards, the first mentioned means including blocks adjustable along the middle portions of the rails and hooks carried by the block and adapted to engage the beam.

5. A hoist applicable to a beam including, a base having rails extending transversely of the beam and having end portions projecting from the sides of the beam and spreaders extending longitudinally of the beam and between said end portions of the rails, legs projecting upward and inward from the end portions of the rails, vertical heads supported by the legs, blocks slidable on the rails, means adapted to set the blocks against movement on the rails, a shank slidably and rotatably carried by each block, a jaw projecting from each shank and engageable with the beam, releasable lock means holding each shank against rotation, a nut on each shank adapted to move it longitudinally, a drum carried between the heads, a hand crank operatively connected with the drum, a ratchet control means checking rotation of the drum in one direction, lines wrapped on the drum in one direction, and guide rollers between the end portions of the rails and adapted to guide the lines past the beams.

6.'A hoist applicable to a beam including, a base having rails extending transversely of the beam and having end portions projecting from the sides of the beam and spreaders extending longitudinally of the beam and between said end portions of the rails, legs projecting upward and inward from the end portions of the rails, vertical heads supported by the legs, blocks slidable on the rails, means adapted to set the blocks against movement on the rails, a shank slidably and rotatably carried by each block, a jaw projecting from each shank and engageable with the beam, releasable lock means holding each shank against rotation, a nut on each shank adapted to move it longitudinally, a drum carried between the heads, ahand crank operatively connected with the drum, a ratchet control means checking rotation of the drum in one direction, lines wrapped on the drum in one direction, guide rollers between the end portions of the rails and adapted to guide the lines past the beams, and a sling detachably'connected to the lines and engageable under work.

7. A hoist applicable to a beam including, a

base having rails extending transversely of the beam and having end portions projecting from the sides of the beam and spreaders extending longitudinally of the beam and between said end portions of the rails, legs projecting upward and inward from the end portions of the rails, vertical heads supported by the legs, blocks slidable on the rails, clamp screws carried by the blocks adapted to set the blocks against movement on the rails, a shank slidably and rotatably carried by each block, a jaw projecting from each shank below the block and engageable with the beam, releasable lock means holding each shank against rotation including a lock lever pivoted to the shank and engageable with the block supporting rail, a nut on each shank adapted to move it longitudinally, a drum carried between the heads, a hand crank operatively connected with the drum, a ratchet control means checking rotation of the drum in one direction, lines wrapped on the drum in one direction, and guide rollers between the end portions of the rails and adapted to guide the lines past the beams.

8. A unitary portable hoist applicable to a horizontally disposed, overhead beam including, a base frame adapted to rest on the upper side of the beam having spaced parallel bottom rails extending transversely of the beam and having end portions projecting from the sides of the beam, spreaders extending longitudinally of the beam and between said end portions of the rails, standards on the rails having legs projecting upwardly and inwardly from the end portions of the rails, vertical heads supported by the standards, a line handling drum with end flanges rotatably carried by the head to extend between the standards and overlie the beam, a hand crank operatively connected with the drum, a ratchet control means carried by one of the heads and checking rotation of the drum in one direction, two lines anchored to the drum and wound thereon in like manner, two like line guides carried by the frame and each engaged by one of said lines, the guides being spaced apart to spread the lines to depend substantially parallel with each other at opposite sides of and clear of the beam, each line guide including an elongate roller rotatably carried by the said end portions of the rails to occur outwardly of the spreaders and parallel with the drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 603,582 Van Pelt May 3, 1898 765,610 Bollhoefer July 19, 1904 1,025,155 Penfield May 7, 1912 2,051,832 Edelblute Aug. 25, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 91,777 Germany May 12, 1897 50,874 Austria Nov. 25, 1911 

